Derry Township School Board debates community use of turf fields

The Hershey Youth Football Association
wants to use the high school's turf field for a few games, but the Derry Township School Board voted Monday night to wait on giving its permission until
school officials clarify who gets to use the field and when.

Board member Brian Shiflett brought up
several objections to a blanket OK.

“What priorities to we have in place
for multiple requests?” he asked.

Shiflett said he is afraid the district will
be accused of playing favorites if it allows some youth athletic
organizations to use the turf fields but not all of them.

He also wondered if and how high school
football coaches who offer their services as field managers for the
youth games should be paid. Normally, they get $30 an hour.

Board member Bruce Hancock said the
district's new athletic director Dan Serfass also asked for
clarification on the policy.

“He feels a bit between a rock and a
hard place, being new to the district and not having the background
information,” Hancock said. “This is something we've been kicking
around for a long time.”

Hancock said he is not sure what
requests the administration has turned down without ever bringing the
question to the board.

Board member Maryellen Sheehan said
giving permission to the youth association could “open the
floodgates.”

“We want to be consistent so it
doesn't look like favoritism,” she said.

Board president Chris Morelli, however,
said the turf fields should be available to any group that fills out
an application and meets the requirements, as long as the field is
not needed for a school team.

“The field belongs to our students
and our taxpayers,” he said.

Board member Ellen Sheffey said the
board put together a policy on use of the turf fields three or four
years ago, shortly after they were installed in 2009, to make them available
to the community as long as students get first priority.

She said requests should only be denied
because of scheduling conflicts.

The board voted 7 to 2, with Morelli
and John Grab dissenting, to send the request to the policy committee
for review. The committee will report back to the board Sept. 23. At
that time, the youth football association would still be able to play
two of their three requested games if the school board approves.

The youth association, which includes
football players from 6 to 12 years old, now plays on the school
district's Memorial Field, which does not have artificial turf.

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